Locking device for rocking chairs



April 17, 1951 A. J. BELIS LE 2,549,286

LOCKING DEVICE FOR ROCKING CHAIRS Filed June 30, 1948 T lglfil Patented Apr. 17, 1951 2 LOCKING DEVICE FOR ROCKING CHAIRS Adelard J. Belisle, Springfield, Mass, assignor to The Berkline Corporation, Springfield, Mass.,

a. corporation Application-June 30, 1948, Serial No. 36,236

. .1 My invention relates to improvements in rocking chairs and is directed more particularly to devices for locking the rocking part of a chair, such as the seat, in various desired positions.

The principal object of my invention is directedto the provision of an apparatus for a rockingchair having a base and a seat rockable thereon, which is adapted to lock the seat in various positions or to release the same, all as may be desired merely by the manipulation of a push-button device which may be located near the arm or hand of the sitter when in the seated position.

The novel features of my invention make it possible to lock the rocking part thereof in any desired position within the limits of its rocking movement whereby the user may utilize the chair for rocking or for reclining-in 'a set position all as may be desired.

Asa special feature of invention, the user may ope'rate the apparatus while seated in the chair and may thereby readily and easilylock or release the rocking part without the necessity of leaving the chair for such purpose.

With the foregoing and various other novel features and advantages and other objects of my invention as will become more apparent as this description proceeds, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in a unique combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed and more fully described and referred to in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevational view of the device of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the device of my invention;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on the of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a small scale side elevational view, more or less diagrammatic, of a rocking chair having the novel features of my invention associated therewith; and Fig. 5 is a. perspective view of the pawl at one extremity of the wire of the operating member of my invention.

Referring now to the drawings more in detail, the invention will be fully described.

In Fig. 4, a chair is diagrammatically shown and includes as in the usual case, a base 2 for resting upon a floor and an upper or seat part 4 which is associated with the base 2 in any of the well known manners for purposes of rocking forwardly and rearwardly thereon.

The base member 2 normally has opposite side line 3- 3 2 Claims-. (01. 155-42) members such as 6 and one or more transverse members such as 8 whereas the seat member 4 normally has opposite side members I l) and one or more transverse members such as I2.

It is to be explained that the novel features of my invention as shown are associated with the transverse cross members 8 and I2 of the chair shown in Fig. 4 although it will be understood that they might be associated with the members 6 and Ill directly.

A bracket is secured to the cross member 8 by any suitable means such'as by screws l8 or the like. The member l6 has a U-shaped portion intermediate the ends thereof extending outwardly from the member 8 so as to provide'an,

opening 22 in which is loosely receivable a slide rod 24 substantially as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A slide rod cross pin 25 is receivable through one end of the slide rod 24 to hold the members in pivotal relation and has its opposite ends receivable in the opposite sides of the portion 20 as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The slide rod 24 is loosely receivable in the opening 22 to permit relative movement thereof. As will shortly be observed, the slide rod is subject to various movements and resultant tensionings at or along its upper end and its intermediate portions upwardly of the cross pin 25 and in such actuations a definite shaking is observed to take place. The slide rod 24 being loose relative to the bracket 16, shaking movements are easily compensated for.

A bracket 26 is similarly secured to the transverse member l2 as by screws 28 or the like and it has a U-shaped portion 30 intermediate the ends thereof extending outwardly from the member [2 so as to provide an opening 32 in which is loosely receivable the slide rod 24 in the manner as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A guide member 34 extends through opposite sides of the U-portion of the bracket 26 and is supported in holes in the bracket as is shown in Fig. 3 and it has an opening 36 extending longitudinally of and through the member 34.

The slide rod 24 is slidable up and down in a suitable transverse opening in the guide member 34 as is shown in Fig. 3.

An operating member preferably consisting of a flexible tube 40 havingdisposed therein a wire 42 is provided. One extremity of the wire 42 has fixed thereto a tubular shaped pawl 44 which is slidable in the opening 36 of the guide member 34.

One extremity of the flexible tube 40 has a shoulder member 46 fixed thereto which is re ceivable in the opening 36 and is held in fixed relation thereto by means of a set screw 41' in threaded engagement with the guide member 34.

The pawl is adapted for sliding movements forwardly and rearwardly along the opening 36 and its stroke at one extreme may be limited by the shoulder member 46.

At the other extremity of the opera-ting memher the tube 49 is fixed to the arm of a chair and a button member 48 is secured to the Wire 42. The button 48 and wire 42 are adapted for re-. ciprocable movements relative to the tube 451 in the well known manner. 1

The slide rod 24 is provided with spaced notches 50 on one side thereof as is shown in Fig. .2 and 'cific forms without departing from the essential characteristicsthereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall within the meaning and purview and range of equivalency of the appended claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it isdesired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A rocking chair having a base and a seat rockably mounted thereon and means for releasably locking the seat to the base comprising, a primary bracket fixed to the base, a secondary bracket fixed tothe seat, an elongated slide rod having a lower end pivotally connected to said primary bracket and a free end extending upwardly therefrom and having spaced notches on a side thereof, said secondary bracket being provided with a guiding mechanism'including a slide rod guide bore in which the free end of said slide rod is slidable and a guide bore intersecting movement relative to said secondary bracket.

' .2. A rocking chairhaving a base and a seat rockably mounted thereon and means for releasably locking the seat to the base comprising,

a primary bracket fixed to the base, a secondary bracket fixed to the seat, an elongated slide rod a side thereof, said secondary bracket being provided with a guiding mechanism including a slide rod-guide bore in which the free end'of said slide rod is slidable and a guide bore intersecting the slide rod guide bore, and a pawl slidable laterally in the second named guide bore of the guiding mechanism and adapted to engage the notches of said slide .rod for holding said slide rod against movement relative to said secondary bracket.

ADELARD J. BELISLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 1

UNITED STATES PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 21,, 1933 

